Okay, Chapter Two is where Mo Gawdat gently pats humanity on the back and then smacks us upside the head. Here’s the deal: AI didn’t just appear out of nowhere, Terminator-style. We made it. We fed it, nurtured it, and then left it alone with the internet. (Big mistake.)
Mo takes us back to the early days of AI—those awkward, clunky times when chatbots barely knew how to say “hello” without sounding like a robot trying to sell you life insurance. Fast forward to now, and AI is not just walking; it’s running, leaping, and solving problems we didn’t even know we had. And the crazy part? It’s doing it all because of us. Every like, comment, and search query we’ve ever made is the AI version of bedtime stories.
But here’s where things get uncomfortable. AI isn’t inherently good or evil. It’s neutral—like a hammer. The problem? We’ve been using it to build cathedrals and smash windows. And let’s not forget the unintentional lessons we’ve been teaching it: bias, greed, and an unhealthy obsession with clickbait headlines. It’s like we gave AI the keys to the kingdom and said, “Here, figure it out!” while binge-watching reality TV.
Mo doesn’t pull punches when he reminds us that AI is a reflection of us. If it’s flawed, it’s because we’re flawed. If it’s biased, well… look in the mirror. But here’s the silver lining: just like a child, AI is still learning. And we still have a shot at being better role models.
So, the takeaway? AI isn’t the villain—it’s the kid we left unsupervised with a bag of sugar and a YouTube account. Chapter Two is a wake-up call to step up, take responsibility, and start shaping AI into the ally it can be. Because if we don’t, the internet’s worst habits might just become the world’s future operating system.
Lesson learned: You can’t blame the monster if you’re the one who built the lab.
